GNOME Usability Study Report :: Logging Out
July 2001table of contents | << previous | next >>
Logging Out
At the end of the study, users were asked to leave their system in a state such that a coworker could use their machine. They were not told to "log off" or "log out". They were simply told to leave their machine so that the coworker could access his files from it, but would be unable to access the user's files. Some users, especially those with minimal UNIX experience, did not understand the task.Halt option
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Relevant Usability Principle: Error prevention.
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Many people hovered over the lock icon before correctly choosing the logout icon. Users were asked not to select "Halt" from the list of choices in the logout dialog.
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Design Recommendation: 'Halt' is not a very intuitive term and does not clearly indicate that selecting it unintentionally could be harmful. We recommend replacing 'Halt' with a more intuitive term such as 'Suspend' and adding a text string explaining the severity of Halt, such that the checkbox label reads 'Suspend (Halt - stops the processor)'. Also, the placement of 'Halt' between the two other choices makes it very easy for a user to accidentally select it without realizing they have done so. We recommend changing the position of the Halt checkbox, or even separating it from the others, so that it does not appear between two very common choices. This possible solution is depicted in the illustration below.
Logout dialog with 'Halt' option.
They made the following comments:
"It isn't the best thing to have there then,...it makes it really easy to hit it." (P11)
"If 'Halt' is dangerous, I wouldn't have it there." (P10)
Logout dialog with more attention called to 'Halt'.
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